Pitching into their majority

Just over two decades ago, a group of club-swinging enthusiasts decided they’d try and build a pitch & putt club in Kilcullen.



There was some land available on the property deeded to the community by the Cross & Passion sisters, for sports and recreation purposes. And there was a grant of £200 given by the operators of the Community Sports Complex.

Things weren’t all in place yet, though. The piece of land available was badly drained, boggy in many parts, and it was likely that more water hazard than grass area would be the main feature of the nine hole course the founders of the future club envisaged.

“But we all worked on it,” recalls Liam Sherry, this year’s Captain and one of those people with the vision that has today resulted in a magnificent 18-hole course. “It wasn’t easy, and some people thought we wouldn’t make anything out of it, but the hard work picking stones and draining the land eventually paid off and we have a terrific club today.”

The anniversary year officially began on St Patrick’s Day with the Captains’ Drive In. There was a large turn out for this event and the opening competition of the year was also held in beautiful weather.

Incoming Captains Ann Sweeney and Liam Sherry, before their drive in, presented the traditional pennants to the outgoing captains Mary Sherry and Dave Hanlon.

The winners from the more than 40 who competed were Jason Hannon and Ian Dillon in the Mens, and Chrissie Byrne and Bernie Dunne in the Ladies.

Among the plans to further celebrate the year is the possibility of a day for those who played in the club’s first Open some two decades ago.

But already in the schedule is the club’s hosting of the All-Ireland Scrambles in May, an event which St Bridget’s will share with Ryston in Newbridge.

“This is only the second year of the competition, which was inaugurated in Dublin last year,” says Liam. “There will be 72 teams of three people, so it will be a big weekend event.”

Over the years the club has recorded many successes, especially with its juvenile members. Pitch & Putt becomes very much a family sport, and family names regularly crop up in local and national competitions, such as the Sherrys, Dillons, and Byrnes.

“We were only talking the other day about how it has all gone, and how many of our youngsters have grown up, and some of us have grown old, in the club,” Liam says wryly. “But there was tremendous satisfaction in being there on St Patrick’s morning and seeing the great condition of the course.”

St Bridget’s is still one of the youngest clubs in the county, as only Prosperous and Woodlands have started up since it was founded. “When we set up we were the ‘baby’ club of around seven others which were long established.

The current numbers are about 90 adults and 20 juvenile members, a figure which Liam Sherry says could be improved on.

“Sometimes we wonder if it is being used to its full potential, but people have so much to do today, and they have to bring their kids to all sorts of their games like football, soccer and rugby. They’re running here and there every day, and they don’t have a lot of time to play sports themselves.”

Most members are from the Kilcullen area, but there are also people from The Curragh, Kildare, Newbridge, Sallins, and Prosperous.

Brian Byrne.

(This feature originally appeared in last week's edition of the Kildare Nationalist.)